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Pomegranate heart-shaped brownies -

Show your love for someone special by whipping up a batch of these beauties. Make your brownies according to your favorite recipe, use a heart-shaped cutter, then add a layer of chocolate glaze and top with fresh pomegranate seeds. (Almost) too pretty to eat!

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Coconut ice cream with pomegranate -

This looks as good as it tastes, and it's pretty healthy too! Mix coconut ice cream with chia seeds, and serve inside hollowed-out coconut shells before topping with pomegranate jewels. You can blitz the coconut flesh in a mixer and add to your ice cream for extra flavor, too.

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Pomegranate, persimmon, and arugula salad -

The slightly tart flavor of pomegranate pairs beautifully with fellow seasonal fruit persimmon. Add to an arugula salad for a delicious sweet-savory combination, and toss in cubed feta if you're not catering to vegans.

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Pomegranate-topped ice cream -

The beauty of pomegranate seeds lies partly in their simplicity. Scatter artfully over raspberry ice cream and you'll make it look and taste extra special, while boosting the nutrient content.

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Pomegranate panna cotta -

Got real kitchen skills? Rich, creamy Italian dessert panna cotta is the perfect foil for sweet-sour pomegranate jelly. Scatter with fresh pomegranate and other berries for a final dash of flair.

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Pomegranate and pear salad -

Pomegranate also works wonderfully with pears, and the two fall fruits combine with fresh baby spinach and crumbled feta to make a delicious, nutritious salad.

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Pomegranate smoothie -

Nutritional powerhouses of vitamins and antioxidants, pomegranates add a splash of color and an extra dose of health-boosting goodness to your favorite smoothie.

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Pomegranate hummus topper -

Love hummus? Mix up the flavors by adding ingredients like beetroot, pumpkin and avocado to your chickpea and tahini base, then scatter pomegranate seeds for extra crunch, flavor, and aesthetic appeal.

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Sweet-savory salad bowl -

This colorful, vitamin-packed salad will give the immune system a welcome boost. Sliced avocado, salad greens, and persimmon are the main payers, with blood orange and pomegranate adding color, crunch, and extra flavor.

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Pomegranate, zucchini, and leek quiche -

Versatile pomegranate adds color and crunch to almost any recipe. Try adding the ruby-colored seeds to a cooked zucchini and leek quiche, and you'll have this vegetarian-friendly dish ready for any dinner party.

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Baked camembert with pomegranate -

This is a delicious, and easy, party recipe. Simply top a whole camembert cheese with pomegranate jelly and pomegranate seeds (plus optional nuts), and bake in the oven for just a few minutes.

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Avocado, orange, and pomegranate salad -

Smooth, creamy avocado and crunchy, punchy pomegranate make a very happy food couple. This recipe adds sliced fresh oranges and spinach leaves to create a beautifully-balanced side dish.

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Pomegranate puff pastries -

Jazz up a sweet puff pastry (nobody's judging if you use store bought!) by simply slicing it open and filling with fruit preserves and fresh pomegranate seeds. Takes mere minutes, and looks like you've gone to great effort!

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Pomegranate and peanut butter rice cakes -

Another super-simple recipe, and this one makes a nutritious snack that's also gluten-free. Simply top wholegrain rice cakes with nut butter, and sprinkle on those beautiful pomegranate jewels. Looks good, tastes delicious, and can be whipped up in seconds.

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Pomegranate, orange, and kiwi salad -

This vibrant and versatile salad makes a surprisingly successful accompaniment to many savory dishes, but could equally be served with ice cream or Greek yogurt as a dessert.

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Pomegranate and salmon salad -

Definitely not to be served with ice cream, this light-but-comforting dish combines salad greens with smoked salmon and pomegranate. Optional extras include harissa paste, cherry tomatoes, and roasted chickpeas and/or nuts.

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Jeweled pilaf rice -

This Persian-influenced, aromatic rice dish combines golden saffron rice with spices and abundant pomegranate seeds, the jewels in the culinary crown.

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Braised ribs with pomegranate -

Pomegranate understandably crops up a lot in vegetarian and vegan cooking, but it's also an excellent partner to meat dishes. Braised short ribs with pomegranate molasses and fresh pomegranate seeds are an excellent case in point!

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Persian pomegranate chicken -

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Pomegranate poke bowl -

Hawaiian-inspired poke bowls look pretty enough to begin with, and adding a scattering of pomegranate seeds adds even more Instagram appeal. They also bring a nutrient boost to an already-healthy dish.

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Cauliflower rice with pomegranate -

Cutting back on carbohydrates? Cauliflower rice and cauliflower couscous are popular with the carb-counting set, and get an extra dose of flavor and vitamins when quickly pan-fried with greens, garlic, and seasoning, before adding fresh pomegranate as a tasty garnish. 

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Beet and pomegranate pizza -

This is a neat, photo-friendly way to add extra nutrients to a home-baked pizza. Adding beet puree to the pizza dough makes for a wonderfully colorful crust, and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds is the crowning glory.

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Pomegranate and feta salad -

Make the pomegranate the star of the show in this hearty, vitamin-packed salad that makes a good lunch or side dish. The salty tang of the feta works wonderfully with the sweet crunch of the pomegranate seeds, and can be mixed with your favorite salad leaves and dressing.

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Pomegranate risotto -

This Italian-inspired autumn dish is a delicious version of creamy, crowd-pleasing risotto. You'll add fresh pomegranate juice during the cooking process, then stir in fresh seeds right at the end.

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Greek yogurt breakfast bowl -

Rich Greek yogurt, golden honey, fresh berries, and crunchy granola are already a delicious breakfast or brunch dish. What's missing? Pomegranate seeds, of course! Make the most of them while they're in season, and sprinkle liberally over the bowlful of breakfast goodness.

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Cauliflower steak with pomegranate -

Cauliflower steaks are a popular vegan take on meat-heavy mains. If you're catering to vegans, adding fresh pomegranate seeds is a nice way to show a little extra love to the dish.

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Pomegranate and fennel salad -

The earthy, aniseed-y taste of fennel makes a delicious companion to pomegranate in a dressed salad. Add cucumber for extra crunchiness and color.

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Baked sweet potatoes with yogurt and pomegranate -

Sweet potatoes have been having a 'moment' for a while now, and this simple dish makes a vibrant addition to a dinner party. Simply drizzle the oven-roasted sweet potatoes with yogurt-tahini dressing, pomegranate, and fresh herbs.

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Pomegranate parfait -

A more elegant take on the simple fruit-and-yogurt concept is to make a parfait, layering Greek yogurt with homemade granola or crushed cookies, and fresh pomegranate seeds.

Sources: (Epicurious) (Martha Stewart) (Healthline)

See also: Breakfast: Still the most important meal of the day?

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